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Pre-transplant measurable residual disease (MRD) predicts relapse and outcome of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). The impact of MRD on the outcomes of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based allo-HCT from a matched unrelated donor (UD) is unknown. This study assessed the impact of MRD in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in the first complete remission (CR1). A total of 272 patients (MRD negative [MRD−], n = 165; MRD positive [MRD+], n = 107) with a median follow-up of 19 (range: 16–24) months were studied. The incidence of grades II–IV and grades III–IV acute GVHD at day 180 was 25.2% and 25% (p = 0.99), and 10.6% and 6.8% (p = 0.29), respectively, and 2-year chronic GVHD was 35% and 30.4% (p = 0.96) in MRD+ and MRD− cohorts, respectively. In multivariate analysis, MRD+ status was associated with a higher incidence of relapse (RI) (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.39–4.72), lower leukaemia-free survival (LFS) (HR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.23–3.39), overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.04–3.25) and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) (HR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.10–2.58). MRD status did not have a significant impact on non-relapse mortality (NRM), or acute or chronic GVHD risk. Among patients with AML undergoing UD allo-HCT with PTCy, pre-transplant MRD+ status predicted a higher relapse rate, lower LFS, OS and GRFS.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the gold standard curative therapy for infants and children with many inborn errors of immunity (IEI), but adolescents and adults with IEI are rarely referred for transplant. Lack of published HSCT outcome data outside small, single-center studies and perceived high risk of transplant-related mortality have delayed the adoption of HSCT for IEI patients presenting or developing significant organ damage later in life. This large retrospective, multicenter HSCT outcome study reports on 329 IEI patients (age range, 15-62.5 years at HSCT). Patients underwent first HSCT between 2000 and 2019. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS). We also evaluated the influence of IEI-subgroup and IEI-specific risk factors at HSCT, including infections, bronchiectasis, colitis, malignancy, inflammatory lung disease, splenectomy, hepatic dysfunction, and systemic immunosuppression. At a median follow-up of 44.3 months, the estimated OS at 1 and 5 years post-HSCT for all patients was 78% and 71%, and EFS was 65% and 62%, respectively, with low rates of severe acute (8%) or extensive chronic (7%) graft-versus-host disease. On univariate analysis, OS and EFS were inferior in patients with primary antibody deficiency, bronchiectasis, prior splenectomy, hepatic comorbidity, and higher hematopoietic cell transplant comorbidity index scores. On multivariable analysis, EFS was inferior in those with a higher number of IEI-associated complications. Neither age nor donor had a significant effect on OS or EFS. We have identified age-independent risk factors for adverse outcome, providing much needed evidence to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from HSCT. ispartof: BLOOD vol:140 issue:14 pages:1635-1649 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Inadequate mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) is a limiting factor to proceeding with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT). To assess the impact of clonal hematopoiesis (CH) on mobilization failure of PBPC for auto-HCT, we investigated the characteristics of poor mobilizers (with a total PBPC collection

in press Pre-transplant detectable measurable residual disease (MRD) is still associated with high risk of relapse and poor outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We aimed at evaluating the impact of disease burden on prediction of relapse and survival in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in first remission (CR1). We identified a total of 3202 adult AML patients, of these 1776 patients were in CR1 and MRD positive and 1426 patients were primary refractory at time of transplant. After a median follow-up of 24.4 months, non-relapse mortality and relapse rate were significantly higher in the primary refractory group compared to the CR1 MRD positive group (Hazards Ratio (HR) = 1.82 (95% CI: 1.47–2.24) p < 0.001 and HR = 1.54 (95% CI: 1.34–1.77), p < 0.001), respectively. Leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly worse in the primary refractory group (HR = 1.61 (95% CI: 1.44-1.81), p < 0.001 and HR = 1.71 (95% CI: 1.51–1.94), p < 0.001, respectively). Our real-life data suggest that patients in CR1 and MRD positive at time of transplant could still be salvaged by allo-HCT with a 2-year OS of 63%, if negative MRD cannot be obtained and their outcomes are significantly better than patients transplanted with active disease. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

Contains fulltext : 241342.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Nonmyeloablative regimens are used for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) of older or medically unfit patients, but successful outcome is still hindered by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), especially in the setting of HLA-mismatched HCT. New GVHD prophylaxis strategies are emerging, including the triple drug strategy, that improve the GVHD-free and relapse-free survival (GRFS). Because the impact of ATG in HLA-mismatched Flu-TBI-based nonmyeloablative HCT has not been investigated, we did a retrospective analysis in three Dutch centers. 67 patients were evaluable, with a median age of 56 years. Overall survival, relapse-free survival and GRFS at 4 years were 52%, 43%, and 38%, respectively. NRM findings and cumulative incidence of relapse at 4 years were 26% and 31%, respectively. At 1-year grade II-IV had occurred in 40% of the patients, and the incidence of moderate-severe chronic GVHD incidence was 16%. Acknowledging the limitations of retrospective analyses, we conclude that the use of ATG for HLA-mismatched truly nonmyeloablative Flu-TBI HCT is feasible and results in acceptable long term outcomes, especially with regards to GRFS. We consider ATG in combination with cyclosporin and mycophenolate mofetil as an alternative for the triple drug strategy that uses sirolimus for GVHD prophylaxis in this particular setting.

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is being increasingly used as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transplanted in first complete remission (CR1). However, results may differ in patients transplanted in CR2. We retrospectively evaluated transplant outcomes of adult AML patients transplanted between 2010–2019 from 9–10/10 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched unrelated donor (UD) in CR2. In total, 127 patients were included (median age 45.5 years, 54% male). Median follow-up was 19.2 months. Conditioning was myeloablative (MAC) in 50.4% and the graft source was peripheral blood in 93.7% of the transplants. Incidence of acute (a)GVHD II-IV and III-IV was 26.2% and 9.2%. Two-year total and extensive chronic (c)GVHD were 34.3% and 13.8 %, respectively. Two-year non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse incidence (RI), leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS), and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 17.2%, 21.1%, 61.7, %, 65.2%, and 49.3%, respectively. Time from diagnosis to transplant (>18 months) was a favorable prognostic factor for RI, LFS, OS, and GRFS while favorable risk cytogenetics was a positive prognostic factor for OS. The patient’s age was a poor prognostic factor for NRM and cGVHD. Finally, the female-to-male combination and reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) were poor and favorable prognostic factors for cGVHD, respectively. We conclude that PTCy is an effective method for GVHD prophylaxis in AML patients undergoing allo-HCT in CR2 from UD.

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Background: Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY) is increasingly used for allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) from an HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD) as an alternative to the standard anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis. Following the demonstration that the use of PBSC haploidentical grafts results in more GvHD than bone marrow grafts, groups have attempted to reduce GvHD in haploidentical-PBSCT by adding ATG to PTCY. The experience of combined PTCY+ATG in the MUD allo-PBSCT is minimal and whether ATG brings any added value when PTCY is used in this setting is still unclear. Methods: In this registry-based study, we compared outcomes of 421 patients with PTCY and 151 patients with PTCY+ATG who underwent a first MUD allo-PBSCT for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in complete remission. Results: Characteristics of PTCY and PTCY+ATG patients were well balanced, including the number of additional immunosuppressive drugs, with the only significant difference between the two cohorts being the median year of transplant, and the follow-up period (19.6 versus 31.1 months, respectively, pConclusions: To date, the question of the best combination of GvHD-preventing drugs in the MUD-PBSCT setting remains unanswered. Our results highlight that in PTCY-based MUD-PBSCT for AML, the addition of ATG does not provide any extra benefit in terms of further GvHD reduction, better GRFS or better survival.

International audience; Whether to choose Haploidentical (Haplo) or one-antigen mismatched unrelated donor (1Ag-MMUD) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) remains an unanswered question. We compared PTCy- Haplo-HCT to PTCy-1Ag-MMUD-HCT for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in complete remission (three groups: 1Ag-MMUD using peripheral blood (1Ag-MMUD-PB; n = 155); Haplo using bone marrow (Haplo-BM; n = 647) or peripheral blood (Haplo-PB; n = 949)). Haplo-BM and Haplo-PB had a higher non-relapse mortality (NRM) compared to 1Ag-MMUD-PB (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.23-4.24, p

Therapeutic decision making is often challenging in older AML patients. We collected retrospective data of 355 consecutive AML patients (>= 60 years) who were treated with intensive chemotherapy (IC) (n=155), hypomethylating agents (HMA) (n=83), or best supportive care (BSC) (n=117) between 2002 and 2017. Overall survival (OS) and response rates after therapy were analyzed. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to analyze the impact of different treatment strategies on survival. The median OS was not significantly different between patients treated with IC or HMA (14.9 vs 10.9 months; HR=1.32, p=0.076)), despite a difference in complete remission rate (59% after IC vs 35% after HMA). Patients who received a allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo HCT) after treatment with IC or HMA had a significant survival benefit compared to patient who didn't proceed to allo HCT (median OS 65 vs 8 months, respectively, p

Background Little is known about characteristics of seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) (NL63, 229E, OC43, and HKU1) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods This was a collaborative Spanish and European bone marrow transplantation retrospective multicenter study, which included allo-HSCT recipients (adults and children) with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) and/or lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by seasonal HCoV diagnosed through multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays from January 2012 to January 2019. Results We included 402 allo-HSCT recipients who developed 449 HCoV URTD/LRTD episodes. Median age of recipients was 46 years (range, 0.3–73.8 years). HCoV episodes were diagnosed at a median of 222 days after transplantation. The most common HCoV subtype was OC43 (n = 170 [38%]). LRTD involvement occurred in 121 episodes (27%). HCoV infection frequently required hospitalization (18%), oxygen administration (13%), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (3%). Three-month overall mortality after HCoV detection was 7% in the whole cohort and 16% in those with LRTD. We identified 3 conditions associated with higher mortality in recipients with LRTD: absolute lymphocyte count Conclusions Seasonal HCoV after allo-HSCT may involve LRTD in many instances, leading to a significant morbidity.

Introduction Acute and chronic graft vs. host disease (a/cGVHD) are major causes of treatment failure and non-relapse mortality (NRM) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients (pts) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Use of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is now an established method for GVHD prophylaxis after HLA haplo-identical (haplo)-HCT. We previously reported data in MM pts undergoing haplo-HCT (EBMT/CIBMTR) and showed that PTCy was associated with promising overall survival (OS) (Sahebi et al., BBMT 2019). However, data using PTCy for GVHD prophylaxis in other donor types are very limited in MM. Methods We evaluated PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis in MM pts who underwent a first allo-HCT using matched related (MRD), matched unrelated (MUD), mismatched related or unrelated (MMRD/MMUD, one antigen), and haplo donors within EBMT centers. OS and progression free survival (PFS) were determined by means of the Kaplan-Meier estimator. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment, relapse and NRM, and a/cGVHD were analyzed individually in a competing risks framework with relapse and death as competing events. Cox proportional hazards regression was used in the multivariable analyses. All estimates include 95% confidence intervals. All included covariates are listed in the Table. Patient Characteristics Between 2012-2018, a total of 295 MM pts received PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis. Median age at transplant was 55 yrs. Allo-HCT was given at a median interval of 34.9 mo from MM diagnosis. The conditioning regimen included reduced intensity (RIC, 193, 65.4%) and myeloablative (MAC, 102, 34.6%). All pts except 10 (3.4%) had prior autologous HCT; all of these 10 pts received a haplo-HCT. GVHD prophylaxis included PTCy + cyclosporine A or tacrolimus +/- mycophenolate mofetil in the majority of patients (239, 81%), and this combination was used in nearly every patient with haplo-HCT. Overall, peripheral blood was used as the stem cell source in about 80% of pts, but bone marrow was used in nearly 40% of haplo-HCTs. Results (Median and 95% confidence interval are provided)1) Median time to neutrophil engraftment was 19 d (18-19 d) with no apparent difference among donor types.2) Median time to platelet engraftment was 23 d (21-26 d), whereas haplo-HCT engraftments were longer (27 d (25-33 d)).3) NRM at 1 yr was 18% (12-22%) and at 2 yrs was 19% (14-24%), with no significant difference among different donor types. Age < 50 yrs significantly decreased NRM to 9% (2-16%, p=0.027) at 2 yrs.4) Cumulative incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD at +100 d was 30% (25-36%), and 1 yr cGVHD was 27% (21-32%), with no apparent difference among donor types.5) OS was 63% (57-69%) at 1 yr and 51% (45-58%) at 2 yrs for the whole group, with no statistical difference among different donor types after a median follow-up of 26.1 mo. Disease status at transplant < PR significantly decreased OS to 35% (22-47%, p=0.005) at 2 yrs.6) PFS was 42% (36-49%) at 1 yr and 26% (20-32%) at 2 yrs for the whole group without apparent significant difference among donor types. Disease status at transplant < PR significantly decreased PFS to 16% (6-26%, p=0.028) at 2 yrs.7) However, in multivariable analyses, donor type using haplo, HR 1.65 (0.56-1.67, p=0.03), was associated with increased mortality in addition to disease status at allo-HCT < PR, HR 1.93 (1.25-2.97, p=0.003). Finally, MUD was associated with an improved PFS, HR=0.63 (0.4-0.99, p=0.04). Disease status < PR, HR=1.85 (1.24-2.74, p=0.002) was again associated with inferior PFS. Summary PTCy in MM patients undergoing allo-HCT throughout donor types resulted in a low incidence of aGVHD grade II-IV of 30% and cGVHD of 27%, with OS of 51% and PFS of 26% at 2 yr. Our first donor comparison using PTCy revealed improved survival in matched (MRD and MUD) versus haplo allo-HCT after adjusting for other risk factors. Disclosures Blaise: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Tarella:TG-therapeutics: Research Funding; ImmunoGen: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. McDonald:venetoclax advisory board in South Africa (in CLL context): Consultancy; Alberts Cellular Therapy: Current Employment. Milpied:Roche: Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Astellas: Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Other: consultancy or advisory role; Celgene: Other: Travel support; Sandoz: Honoraria, Other: consultancy or advisory role; Janssen: Honoraria. Yakoub-Agha:Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Gilead/Kite: Honoraria, Other: travel support; Janssen: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Schonland:Janssen: Honoraria, Other: travel support to meetings, Research Funding; Prothena: Honoraria, Other: travel support to meetings, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: travel support to meetings, Research Funding.

The predictive value of measurable residual disease (MRD) for survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been firmly established in younger patients treated with intensive chemotherapy. The value of MRD after treatment with decitabine in older patients is unknown. This retrospective analysis included patients ≥60 years of age with AML who received an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) after treatment with decitabine or intensive chemotherapy. Of the 133 consecutively transplanted patients, 109 had available pretransplantation MRD analyses (by flowcytometry [threshold 0.1%]). Forty patients received decitabine treatment (10-day schedule), and 69 patients received intensive chemotherapy (7 + 3 regimen). Patients who received decitabine were older (median 67 versus 64 years) and more often had MRD (70% versus 38%). OS after alloHCT was comparable in both groups. In the chemotherapy group, MRD-positive patients had a significantly higher relapse probability (subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR] 4.81; P= .0031) and risk of death (HR 2.8; P= .02) compared to MRD-negative patients. In the decitabine group there was no significant association between the presence of MRD and relapse (sHR 0.85; P= .83) or death (HR 0.72; P= .60). Pretransplantation MRD in patients receiving decitabine treatment does not have similar predictive value for relapse or survival in older AML patients receiving an alloHCT, compared to patients receiving intensive chemotherapy.

Limited data are currently available on the outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT) with a reduced performance status. We herein present the results of a registry study on 2,936 AML patients undergoing allo‐SCT in first remission (CR1) with a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score less than or equal to 80%. Two‐year leukemia‐free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS) and graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD)‐free, and relapse‐free survival (GRFS) rates were 54%, 59%, and 41%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, patients with a KPS score = 80% had lower non‐relapse mortality (NRM) and superior OS in comparison to patients with a KPS score, Graft‐versus‐host disease‐free, relapse‐free survival in patients with KPS score < 80% receiving MAC or RIC regimen.

We report here the results of a retrospective study designed to evaluate outcome of patients with AML with KPS score ≤80% following allo-SCT. The analysis included adult AML patients undergoing allo-SCT in CR1 between 2000 and 2018, with a KPS score at the time of transplant between 50% and 80%. A total of 2,963 patients were identified. Median age at transplant was 55 years (18-77 years). The KPS score was 80% in 85% of the patients and On multivariate analysis, transplant from a MSD was associated with a reduced risk of aGvHD (10/10 UD HR 1.8, 9/10 UD HR 2.4, haplo HR 1.9, CB HR 3.4, p In order to compare outcome following MAC and RIC conditioning regimens the analysis was restricted to patients receiving transplant from MSD or UD. Patients with a KPS score of 80% or In conclusion, allo-SCT is feasible in patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first remission and KPS score ≤80%, with acceptable NRM and survival rates. In patients with a KPS score of 80% a MAC regimen was associated with lower relapse rate, similar NRM and better GRFS as compared to RIC, while in patients with a KPS score

Cyclosporine A (CSA) and methotrexate (MTX) is the standard graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis regimen for matched sibling donor (MSD) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Recently, post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has been shown to be effective in GVHD prevention. In this registry-based study, we compared outcomes of 118 patients treated with PTCy and 1202 patients with CSA/MTX who underwent MSD allo-HCT for acute myelogenous leukemia. In a matched-pair analysis, PTCy was associated with a higher incidence of relapse at 2 years compared with CSA/MTX (41.1% versus 21.3%; P = .039). The incidences of day +180 grade II-IV acute GVHD and 2-year chronic GVHD were comparable in the PTCy and CSA/MTX arms (25.2% versus 25.4% [P = .90] and 42.6% versus 42.6% [P = .84], respectively). Similarly, 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS; 54.4% versus 74.32%; P = .052), overall survival (OS; 70.6% versus 79.7%; P = .15), and GVHD-free relapse-free survival (GRFS; 38.1% versus 52.5%; P = .49) were not statistically different in the 2 arms. Our data show that GVHD prophylaxis with PTCy is feasible, resulting in similar incidences of GVHD, GRFS, LFS, and OS as seen with conventional CSA/MTX in patients undergoing allo-HCT from an MSD. The higher rate of relapse observed with PTCy needs further evaluation in a prospective study. © 2021 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Background Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease (cGVHD) can impact quality of life, especially in patients with oral involvement. Half of the patients with cGVHD do not respond to first-line therapy with corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. Ruxolitinib is effective in steroid-refractory (SR)-cGVHD cases, but the long-term effects of ruxolitinib on the oral mucosa are unknown. Objective(s) This study aims to assess the effect of ruxolitinib on the oral mucosa of SR-cGVHD patients with oral involvement. Materials and methods An observational longitudinal patient study was conducted in 53 patients with SR-cGVHD and oral involvement who were treated with ruxolitinib. The baseline condition of the oral mucosa was compared to its condition at 4 and 12 weeks after starting ruxolitinib. Results The overall response was 81% (43/53), with a complete response in 53% (28/53) and partial response in 28% (15/53) after 12 weeks (p p = 0.005) and patients with ruxolitinib monotherapy (p = 0.02), respectively. At a longer follow-up (median 20 months), oral symptoms were comparable to the 12-week symptoms (p = 0.78), regardless of ruxolitinib use (p = 0.83). Conclusion Ruxolitinib treatment of SR-cGVHD patients with oral involvement was associated with a significant response of the oral manifestations at 12 weeks. Clinical relevance The oral mucosa of SR-cGVHD patients is likely to improve after 4 and 12 weeks of ruxolitinib treatment. Symptom severity at baseline does not affect the response of the oral mucosa.

Background: Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has been shown to significantly reduce transplant related mortality (TRM) post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and is being increasingly used for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients (pts) undergoing HSCT including from unrelated donors (UD). These publications mainly include pts transplanted in first complete remission (CR1). We recently reported outcome in 1879 AML pts transplanted in second CR (CR2) with conventional graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis (Leukemia 2020). Results may differ in transplantation with PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis, eliminating proliferating alloreactive T cells, and upregulating T regulatory cells while suppressing host natural killer (NK) cells immediately after transplantation, changing the biology and characteristics of the transplantation. Methods: The study aim was to assess outcome of adult AML pts, aged ≥18 years in CR2 undergoing HSCT from a 9-10/10 UD with PTCy, in 2010-2019.Statistics included multivariate analysis (MVA) adjusting for potential confounding factors was performed using a Cox's proportional-hazards regression model for main outcomes. Results: In total, 127 pts were included. Median follow-up was 19.2 (95% CI, 14.7-28) months (mos). Median age was 45.5 (range, 18.2-71.3) years. 54.3% were male. Cytogenetic risk (MRC classification) was favorable, intermediate, and adverse in 15.7%, 55.9%, and 5.5% of pts, respectively (missing data-22.8percentage) Median year of transplantation was 2017. Time from diagnosis to transplantation was 20.4 (range, 4.1-182.4) months. All pts were at CR2 at time of transplantation. Donors were 10/10 and 9/10 UD in 60.6% and 39.4% of pts, respectively. 77.8% and 47.2% of the pts and donors, respectively, were cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositive. Conditioning was myeloablative in 50.4% and reduced intensity in 49.6%. The most frequent (61.4%) conditioning consisted of busulfan and fludarabine. All pts received PTCy as anti GVHD prophylaxis in combination with immunosuppression, which was cyclosporine A /mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in 21.3% and MMF/tacrolimus in 23.6%. 33.9% of the pts received In vivo T-cell depletion. Grafts were peripheral blood in 93.7% and bone marrow in 6.3% of transplants. Karnofsky performance score (KPS) was > 90 in 71.2% and the hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) was zero in 61.5% of the pts. Engraftment was achieved by 97.6% with day (d) 60 absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 0.5 x 10 9/L in 96.8%, and d 180 incidence of acute (a) GVHD II-IV and III-IV was 26.2% and 9.2%, respectively. The 2-year total and extensive chronic (c) GVHD was 34.3% and 13.8 %, respectively. The 2-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 17.2%. The 2-year relapse incidence (RI) was 21.1%. RI was the main cause of death in 41% of pts who died, followed by infections (23.1%) and GVHD (20.5%). The 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS) and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) was 61.7%, 65.2% and 49.3%, respectively (Figure). In MVA time from diagnosis to transplant was significant prognostic factor for RI, LFS, OS and GRFS hazard ratio (HR) =0.19 (95% CI 0.07-0.48, p Conclusions: Outcome of AML pts undergoing HSCT from a 9-10/10 MUD in CR with PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis, are similar to previous reports using conventional GVHD prophylaxis with 26% of pts developing aGVHD ,34% cGVHD and NRM of 17%. These results are also similar to those we previously observed in pts undergoing HSCT from UD with PTCy while in CR1. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Labopin: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Kulagin: X4 Pharmaceuticals, Alexion, Apellis, Biocad: Research Funding; Novartis, Generium, Sanofi, Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer: Speakers Bureau. Blaise: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Yakoub-Agha: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Ciceri: IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele: Current Employment. Mohty: Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria.

INTRODUCTION: Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is a heterogenous disease which is almost incurable without an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Within the revised international scoring system (R-IPSS), MDS with poor and very poor cytogenetics have a much worse outcome after allo-HCT. The very poor cytogenetic subgroup refers to patients harboring more than 3 abnormalities and is therefore a highly heterogenous group. We have shown in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that beyond complex karyotype, specific adverse cytogenetic features such as 7q abnormalities (abn7q), 5q abnormalities (abn5q), 17p abnormalities (abn17p) and monosomal karyotype (MK) worsen the outcomes after allo-HCT. We have therefore retrospectively reviewed MDS with very poor cytogenetics and studied the impact of adverse cytogenetic features on outcomes after transplant. METHODS: We selected MDS patients who underwent allo-HCT between 2001 and 2018 from a matched related or unrelated donor, for whom a full cytogenetic report was available in the EBMT registry. We then stratified them according to the presence of abn7q, abn5q, abn17p, MK and the number of abnormalities (≤5, 6-9 and ≥10). Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and relapse-free survival (GRFS) was defined as survival without grade II-IV acute GvHD, extensive chronic GvHD or relapse. RESULTS: A total of 154 patients were identified in the registry. One hundred twenty-three patients (81%) had MDS with excess of blasts and 4 (3%) had secondary AML. Median age was 59 years (interquartile range (IQR), 51-64) and the median follow-up was 38 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 34-60). The time from diagnosis to allo-HCT was a median of 6 months (IQR, 4-8). Two thirds of patients received a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen (N = 103, 67%) and 87 patients had a matched unrelated donor (57%). Almost all patients were in first complete remission at time of transplant (N= 149, 97%). Regarding specific cytogenetic features, 87 patients had abn7q (57%), 99 abn5q (64%), 59 abn17p (38%) and 120 MK (78%) with considerable overlap between groups. The 2-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 34% (95% CI 26-42%) and 24% (95% CI 17-31%), respectively. The 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse and non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 59% (95% CI 51-67%) and 18% (95% CI 12-24%), respectively. The cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute GvHD and chronic GvHD was 33% (95% CI 25-40%) and 44% (95% CI 36-53%) by day 100 and 2 years respectively. The 2-year GRFS was 12% (95% CI 6-17%). The presence of abn5q was associated with a significantly decreased PFS of 17% (95% CI 9-25%) versus 36% (95% CI 23-49%); p=0.05) and GRFS (6% (95% CI 1-11%) versus 23% (95% CI 11-34%); p=0.04). The presence of abn7q was associated with significantly increased NRM (25% (15-34%) versus 9% (2-16%); p=0.02) which did not translate into OS. There were no specific cytogenetic features that had an independent impact on the cumulative incidence of relapse, but age over 55 years did increase the relapse risk (65: 66% (95% CI 50-83%); p=0.03). A continuous effect was also observed (per decade increase: HR=1.24, 95%CI 1.02-1.52; p=0.03). Patients with an interval of more than 6 months from diagnosis to allo-HCT had almost double the OS (45% (95% CI 32-58%)) compared to patients with an interval less than 6 months (27% (95% CI 17-37%); p=0.04), however a continuous effect was not observed. CONCLUSION: MDS with very poor cytogenetics according to R-IPSS is a very bad group with dismal outcomes after allo-HCT. Within this high-risk group, specific adverse cytogenetic features such as the number of abnormalities, abn7q, abn5q, abn17p or MK did not stratify outcomes further, except for abn5q which was associated with a decreased PFS. Our results might be explained in part by the low number patients and by the over-representation of adverse features within this cohort. Despite that, advancing age was associated with increased relapse. Whilst allo-HCT remains the best therapeutic option for this very high-risk patient group, efforts should focus on post-transplant preemptive intervention strategies to prevent relapse. Disclosures Byrne: Incyte: Honoraria. Schroeder: Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding. Blaise: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Hayden: Jansen, Takeda: Other: Travel, Accomodation, Expenses; Amgen: Honoraria. Scheid: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Yakoub-Agha: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria.

Item does not contain fulltext A few decades ago, the chances of survival for patients with a haematological malignancy needing Intensive Care Unit (ICU) support were minimal. As a consequence, ICU admission policy was cautious. We hypothesized that the long-term outcome of patients with a haematological malignancy admitted to the ICU has improved in recent years. Furthermore, our objective was to evaluate the predictive value of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score. A total of 1095 patients from 5 Dutch university hospitals were included from 2003 until 2015. We studied the prevalence of patients' characteristics over time. By using annual odds ratios, we analysed which patients' characteristics could have had influenced possible trends in time. A approximated mortality rate was compared with the ICU mortality rate, to study the predictive value of the APACHE II score. Overall one-year mortality was 62%. The annual decrease in one-year mortality was 7%, whereas the APACHE II score increased over time. Decreased mortality rates were particularly observed in high-risk patients (acute myeloid leukaemia, old age, low platelet count, bleeding as admission reason and need for mechanical ventilation within 24 h of ICU admission). Furthermore, the APACHE II score overestimates mortality in this patient category.

Mixed chimerism is a promising approach to inducing allograft and xenograft tolerance. Mixed allogeneic and xenogeneic chimerism in mouse models induced specific tolerance and global hyporesponsiveness, respectively, of host mouse natural killer (NK) cells. In this study, we investigated whether pig/human mixed chimerism could tolerize human NK cells in a humanized mouse model. Our results showed no impact of induced human NK cell reconstitution on porcine chimerism. NK cells from most pig/human mixed chimeric mice showed either specifically decreased cytotoxicity to pig cells or global hyporesponsiveness in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Mixed xenogeneic chimerism did not hamper the maturation of human NK cells but was associated with an alteration in NK cell subset distribution and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production in the bone marrow. In summary, we demonstrate that mixed xenogeneic chimerism induces human NK cell hyporesponsiveness to pig cells. Our results support the use of this approach to inducing xenogeneic tolerance in the clinical setting. However, additional approaches are required to improve the efficacy of tolerance induction while ensuring adequate NK cell functions.

Since their discovery, antibodies have been viewed as ideal candidates or "magic bullets" for use in targeted therapy in the fields of cancer, autoimmunity, and chronic inflammatory disorders. A wave of antibody-dedicated research followed, which resulted in the clinical approval of a first generation of monoclonal antibodies for cancer therapy such as rituximab (1997) and cetuximab (2004), and infliximab (2002) for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. More recently, the development of antibodies that prevent checkpoint-mediated inhibition of T cell responses invigorated the field of cancer immunotherapy. Such antibodies induced unprecedented long-term remissions in patients with advanced stage malignancies, most notably melanoma and lung cancer, that do not respond to conventional therapies. In this review, we will recapitulate the development of antibody-based therapy, and detail recent advances and new functions, particularly in the field of cancer immunotherapy. With the advent of recombinant DNA engineering, a number of rationally designed molecular formats of antibodies and antibody-derived agents have become available, and we will discuss various molecular formats including antibodies with improved effector functions, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, antibody-cytokine fusion proteins, and T cells genetically modified with chimeric antigen receptors. With these exciting advances, new antibody-based treatment options will likely enter clinical practice and pave the way toward more successful control of malignant diseases.

Thanks to the recent developments in transplant procedures, an increasing number of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a poor Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score are currently offered an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Nevertheless, little data is available about outcome of this fragile population. We report here the results of a retrospective study designed to evaluate outcome of patients with AML undergoing allo-HCT with KPS score ≤80%. The analysis included patients with AML aged ≥18 years, undergoing allo-HCT in first remission between 2000 and 2018, with a KPS score at the time of transplant between 50% and 80%. Patients who received manipulated grafts or had incomplete data about cytogenetics were excluded. Conditioning intensity was defined according to EBMT definitions. A total of 2,963 patients were identified. Median age at transplant was 55 years (18-77 years). Median year of transplant was 2014. The KPS score was =80% in 85% of the patients and Cumulative incidence of grade II-IV and III-IV acute GVHD (aGvHD) was 26% and 8%, respectively. The 2-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD (cGvHD) and severe cGVHD was 38% and 18%. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse incidence (RI) at 2 years were 19% and 27%, respectively. Notably, in the subgroup of patients with KPS On multivariate analysis, transplant from a MSD was associated with a reduced risk of aGvHD (10/10 UD HR 1.8, 9/10 UD HR 2.4, haplo HR 1.9, CB HR 3.4, p In order to compare outcome following MAC and RIC conditioning the analysis was restricted to patients receiving transplant from MSD or UD. Patients with a KPS score =80% or In conclusion, allo-HCT is feasible in patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first remission and KPS score Disclosures Labopin: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Kröger:Sanofi-Aventis: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; DKMS: Research Funding; JAZZ: Honoraria; Medac: Honoraria; Neovii: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Riemser: Research Funding. Socie:Alexion: Consultancy. Blaise:Pierre Fabre medicaments: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Molmed: Consultancy, Honoraria. Byrne:Ariad/Incyte: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Esteve:Astellas: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Mohty:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding.

From 1997, plasma-derived C1-inhibitor concentrate (Cetor (R)) has been available to HAE and AAE patients. Recently, a virus reducing 15 nm nanofiltration step has been introduced in the production process. A randomized, double-blind controlled cross-over study was performed to compare the pharmacokinetics (PK) of nanofiltered (C1-INH-NF) with conventional C1-inhibitor (C1-INH). Efficacy and safety were investigated in an open-label, on-demand and a prophylactic study. No differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between C1-INH and C1-INH-NF were found (13 non-symptomatic HAE patients). Both C1-inhibitor products equally increased plasma C4 levels. In the on-demand study, 14 acute angioedema attacks in 8 patients were analyzed. In the prophylactic study, 1 ME and 5 RAE patients experienced in total 31 attacks during 748 observation days. In total 180,000 units of C1-INH-NF were administered. No product-related adverse events occurred, and no anti-C1-antibodies were induced. Nanofiltration in the production process of C1-inhibitor did not affect the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Studies of human immune diseases are generally limited to the analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes of heterogeneous patient populations. Improved models are needed to allow analysis of fundamental immunologic abnormalities predisposing to disease and in which to assess immunotherapies. Immunodeficient mice receiving human fetal thymus grafts and fetal CD34(+) cells intravenously produce robust human immune systems, allowing analysis of human T cell development and function. However, to use humanized mice to study human immune-mediated disorders, immune systems must be generated from adult hematopoietic cells. Here, we demonstrated robust immune reconstitution in mice with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) aspirated from bone marrow of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and healthy control volunteers. In these humanized mice, cryopreservation of human leukocyte antigen allele-matched fetal thymic tissue prevented allogeneic adult HSC rejection. Newly generated T cells, which included regulatory T cells (T(regs)), were functional and self-tolerant and had a diverse repertoire. The immune recognition of these mice mimicked that of the adult CD34(+) cell donor, but the T cell phenotypes were more predominantly "naïve" than those of the adult donors. HSCs from T1D and control donors generated similar numbers of natural T(regs) intrathymically; however, peripheral T cells from T1D subjects showed increased proportions of activated or memory cells compared to controls, suggesting possible HSC-intrinsic differences in T cell homeostasis that might underlie immune pathology in T1D. This "personalized immune" mouse provides a new model for individualized analysis of human immune responses that may provide new insights into not only T1D but also other forms of immune function and dysfunction as well.

Background The innate immune response is important in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) but the exact pathways involved are not elucidated. The authors studied the role of the intracellular danger sensor NLRP3 inflammasome. Methods NLRP3 inflammasome gene expression was analyzed in respiratory epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages obtained from ventilated patients (n = 40). In addition, wild-type and NLRP3 inflammasome deficient mice were randomized to low tidal volume (approximately 7.5 ml/kg) and high tidal volume (approximately 15 ml/kg) ventilation. The presence of uric acid in lung lavage, activation of caspase-1, and NLRP3 inflammasome gene expression in lung tissue were investigated. Moreover, mice were pretreated with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, glibenclamide, or vehicle before start of mechanical ventilation. VILI endpoints were relative lung weights, total protein in lavage fluid, neutrophil influx, and pulmonary and systemic cytokine and chemokine concentrations. Data represent mean ± SD. Results Mechanical ventilation up-regulated messenger RNA expression levels of NLRP3 in alveolar macrophages (1.0 ± 0 vs. 1.70 ± 1.65, P less than 0.05). In mice, mechanical ventilation increased both NLRP3 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein messenger RNA levels, respectively (1.08 ± 0.55 vs. 3.98 ± 2.89; P less than 0.001 and 0.95 ± 0.53 vs. 6.0 ± 3.55; P less than 0.001), activated caspase-1, and increased uric acid levels (6.36 ± 1.85 vs. 41.9 ± 32.0, P less than 0.001). NLRP3 inflammasome deficient mice displayed less VILI due to high tidal volume mechanical ventilation compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, treatment with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist or glibenclamide reduced VILI. Conclusions Mechanical ventilation induced a NLRP3 inflammasome dependent pulmonary inflammatory response. NLRP3 inflammasome deficiency partially protected mice from VILI.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary coagulopathy is intrinsic to pneumonia and other forms of acute lung injury. We hypothesized patients with burn injuries and inhalation trauma to have similar alterations in pulmonary coagulation and fibrinolysis.METHODS: We performed a prospective study on changes in pulmonary and systemic thrombin generation and fibrinolytic activity in patients with burn injuries and inhalation trauma requiring mechanical ventilation. Nondirected bronchial lavage was performed on alternate days. Patients requiring mechanical ventilation for nonpulmonary reasons who did not meet the North American European Consensus Conference criteria for acute lung injury functioned as control patients.RESULTS: We studied 13 patients with burn injuries and inhalation trauma and 15 control patients. On admission, patients with burn injuries and inhalation trauma showed a significant increase in thrombin generation in the airways compared with control patients, as reflected by increased lavage fluid levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes and fibrin degradation products, and decreased lavage fluid levels of activated protein C and antithrombin. Simultaneously, burn patients showed a significant decrease in fibrinolytic activity, as reflected by decreased lavage fluid levels of plasminogen activator activity. Pulmonary coagulopathy persisted throughout the period of mechanical ventilation and was accompanied by similar changes in systemic coagulation and fibrinolysis. There was no significant correlation between changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis and the extent of burn injury.CONCLUSIONS: Patients with burn injuries and inhalation trauma requiring mechanical ventilation show a distinct and sustained procoagulant and antifibrinolytic shift in the pulmonary compartment. Pulmonary coagulopathy could be an important therapeutic target in these patients.

Although a relation between diminished human immunity and stress is well recognized both within the general public and the scientific literature, the molecular mechanisms by which stress alters immunity remain poorly understood, We explored a novel model for acute human stress involving volunteers performing a first-time bungee jump from an altitude of 60 m and exploited this model to characterize the effects of acute stress in the peripheral blood compartment. Twenty volunteers were included in the study; half of this group was pretreated for 3 d with the beta-receptor blocking agent propranolol. Blood was drawn 2 h before, right before, immediately after and 2 h after the jump. Plasma catecholamine and cortisol levels increased significantly during jumping, which was accompanied by significantly reduced ex vivo inducibility of proinflammatory cytokines as well as activation of coagulation and vascular endothelium. Kinome profiles obtained from the peripheral blood leukocyte fraction contained a strong noncanonical glucocorticoid receptor signal transduction signature after jumping. In apparent agreement, jumping down-regulated Lck/Fyn and cellular innate immune effector function (phagocytosis). Pretreatment of volunteers with propranolol abolished the effects of jumping on coagulation and endothelial activation but left the inhibitory effects on innate immune function intact, Taken together, these results indicate that bungee jumping leads to a catecholamine-independent immune suppressive phenotype and implicate noncanonical glucocorticoid receptor signal transduction as a major pathway linking human stress to impaired functioning of the human innate immune system. (C) 2011 The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, www.feinsteininstitute.org Online address: http://www.molmed.org doi: 10.2119/molmed.2010.00204

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary coagulopathy may contribute to an adverse outcome in lung injury. We assessed the effects of local anticoagulant therapy on bronchoalveolar and systemic haemostasis in a rat model of endotoxemia-induced lung injury.METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were intravenously challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and treated with nebulized normal saline (placebo), recombinant human-activated protein C (APC), plasma-derived antithrombin (AT), heparin, or danaparoid.RESULTS: Intravenous administration of LPS resulted in lung injury associated with elevated bronchoalveolar levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TATc), 6.9 +/- 0.8 ng/mL (placebo) versus 0.5 +/- 0.2 ng/mL (healthy control) (p < 0.01), and elevated bronchoalveolar levels of fibrin degradation products (FDP), 555 +/- 74 ng/mL versus 27 +/- 12 ng/mL (p < 0.01). Nebulized APC, AT, and danaparoid all significantly limited the rise of bronchoalveolar levels of TATc, 2.4 +/- 0.7 ng/mL), 1.5 +/- 0.2, 3.8 +/- 0.7, and 3.2 +/- 0.9 ng/mL, respectively (all p < 0.01 vs. placebo), and fibrin degradation products, 243 +/- 77, 113 +/- 20, 317 +/- 74, and 300 +/- 42 ng/mL (all p < 0.01 vs. placebo). Heparin and danaparoid also significantly affected systemic coagulopathy. However, pulmonary inflammatory responses [neutrophil influx into the lungs, bronchoalveolar levels of myeloperoxidase, and bronchoalveolar levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6 and CINC-3], and histopathology of lungs were not affected by nebulization of anticoagulants.CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, local treatment with APC, AT, heparin, or danaparoid attenuate pulmonary coagulopathy, but not inflammation, in rats with endotoxemia-induced lung injury.

Clara cell protein levels are elevated in plasma of individuals with mild or subclinical lung injury. We studied the influence of two mechanical ventilation strategies on local and systemic levels of Clara cell protein (CC16) and compared them with levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and surfactant proteins (SP)-A and -D in patients undergoing elective surgery. Saved samples from a previously reported investigation were used for the study. Forty patients planned for elective surgery were randomized to mechanical ventilation with either a conventional tidal volume (VT) of 12 ml/kg without positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or low VT of 6 ml/kg and 10 cmH2O PEEP. Plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected directly after intubation and after 5 h of mechanical ventilation. While systemic levels of SP-A and SP-D remained unchanged, systemic levels of CC16 and sRAGE increased significantly in both groups after 5 h ( P < 0.001 for both). BALF levels of SP-A, SP-D, CC16, and sRAGE remained unaffected. No differences were found between the two mechanical ventilation strategies regarding any of the measured biological markers. In conclusion, systemic levels of CC16 and sRAGE rise after 5 h in patients receiving mechanical ventilation for elective surgery. Mechanical ventilation with lower tidal volumes and PEEP did not have a different effect on levels of biomarkers of lung epithelial injury compared with conventional mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: Alveolar fibrin deposition is a hallmark of pneumonia. It has been proposed that natural inhibitors of coagulation, including activated protein C, antithrombin, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor, exert lung-protective effects via anticoagulant and possibly anti-inflammatory pathways. We investigated the role of these natural anticoagulants in Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. DESIGN: A controlled in vivo laboratory study. SETTING: Research laboratory of a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Total of 98 male Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: Rats were challenged intratracheally with S. pneumoniae (serotype 3, 10(6) colony forming units), inducing pneumonia. Rats were randomized to intravenous treatment with normal saline, activated protein C, antithrombin, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, heparin, or tissue-type plasminogen activator. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Rats infected with S. pneumoniae had increased thrombin-antithrombin complexes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, with decreased levels of antithrombin activity and fibrin degradation products. Administration of activated protein C, antithrombin, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor significantly limited these procoagulant changes. Furthermore, antithrombin treatment resulted in less bacterial outgrowth of S. pneumoniae and less histopathologic damage in lungs. CONCLUSIONS: Anticoagulant treatment attenuates pulmonary coagulopathy during S. pneumoniae pneumonia. Antithrombin seems to exert significant lung-protective effects in pneumococcal pneumonia in rats.

Pulmonary coagulopathy and hyperinflammation may contribute to an adverse outcome in sepsis. The present study determines the effects of natural inhibitors of coagulation on bronchoalveolar haemostasis and inflammation in a rat model of endotoxaemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised to treatment with normal saline, recombinant human activated protein C (APC), plasma-derived antithrombin (AT), recombinant human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), heparin or recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Rats were intravenously injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which induced a systemic inflammatory response and pulmonary inflammation. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage were obtained at 4 and 16 h after LPS injection, and markers of coagulation and inflammation were measured. LPS injection caused an increase in the levels of thrombin-AT complexes, whereas plasminogen activator activity was attenuated, both systemically and within the bronchoalveolar compartment. Administration of APC, AT and TFPI significantly limited LPS-induced generation of thrombin-AT complexes in the lungs, and tPA stimulated pulmonary fibrinolytic activity. However, none of the agents had significant effects on the production of pulmonary cytokines, chemokines, neutrophil influx and myeloperoxidase activity. Natural inhibitors of coagulation prevent bronchoalveolar activation of coagulation, but do not induce major alterations of the pulmonary inflammatory response in rat endotoxaemia.

OBJECTIVE: Alveolar fibrin deposition is a hallmark of pneumonia. It has been proposed that recombinant human activated protein C exerts lung-protective effects via anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory pathways. We investigated the role of the protein C system in pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the organism that is predominantly involved in ventilator-associated pneumonia.DESIGN: An observational clinical study and a controlled, in vivo laboratory study.SETTING: Multidisciplinary intensive care unit and a research laboratory of a university hospital.PATIENTS AND SUBJECTS: Patients with unilateral ventilator-associated pneumonia and male Sprague-Dawley rats.INTERVENTIONS: Bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in five patients with unilateral ventilator-associated pneumonia. A total of 62 rats were challenged with intratracheal P. aeruginosa (10 colony-forming units), inducing pneumonia. Rats were randomized to treatment with normal saline, recombinant human activated protein C, heparin, or recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients with pneumonia demonstrated suppressed levels of protein C and activated protein C in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from the infected site compared with the contralateral uninfected site. Intravenous administration of recombinant human activated protein C in rats with P. aeruginosa pneumonia limited bronchoalveolar generation of thrombin-antithrombin complexes, largely preserving local antithrombin activity. However, recombinant human activated protein C did not have effects on neutrophil influx and activity, expression of pulmonary cytokines, or bacterial clearance.CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, the pulmonary protein C pathway is impaired at the site of infection, and local anticoagulant activity may be insufficient. Recombinant human activated protein C prevents procoagulant changes in the lung; however, it does not seem to alter the pulmonary host defense against P. aeruginosa pneumonia.

Objective. To determine pathogen-specific kinetic changes in the alveolar procoagulant (PC) activity, tissue factor (TF), and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) expression during the course of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and to assess the relationship between clinical resolution, intral-alveolar bacterial eradication, and restoration of hemostatic balance. Design: Prospective, multiple-center study in a cohort of VAP patients. Setting. Two university-affiliated intensive care units. Patients. Thirty-five patients with microbiologically documented VAP who received adequate antimicrobial coverage and 13 controls. Interventions. Nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage was performed at the onset of VAP and on days 4 and 8 after initiation of antibiotic therapy. Samples were assayed for PC, TF, TFPI, and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TATc). The corresponding Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) was collected simultaneously. Measurements and Main Results: Isolated pathogens included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 13), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (n = 8), methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) (n = 7), and Escherichia coli (n = 7). Although PC activity and TF were increased among the various pathogens at the onset of VAP, the levels of those with P. aeruginosa remained elevated at the end of treatment compared with controls and other etiological agents. TFPI levels were elevated for the duration of the study for all pathogens. A universal increase in TATc was noted at the onset of VAP, but the difference among the group of pathogens was significant at days 4 and 8 posttherapy. Despite the persisting hemostatic imbalance and incomplete intra-alveolar eradication of P. aeruginosa at end of therapy, the CPIS fell comparably at each time point irrespective of the etiological agents. Conclusions: Alveolar activation of the TF-dependent pathway may be species-specific in VAP and may not be adequately balanced by TFPI. The disparity between clinical response and eradication of A aeruginosa from the intra-alveolar space suggests the need for biological markers to guide response to therapy

Background Administration of C1-inhibitor concentrate is effective for prophylaxis and treatment of severe angioedema attacks caused by C1-inhibitor deficiency. The concentrate should be administered intravenously and hence needs to be administered by health care professionals, which might cause considerable delay in treatment and inconvenience for patients. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of on-demand and prophylactic self-administration of C1-inhibitor concentrate in patients with frequent attacks of angioedema. Methods Patients with hereditary or acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency who had very frequent angioedema attacks were trained to self-administer C1-inhibitor concentrate. The study consisted of 31 patients using on-demand treatment and 12 patients using prophylaxis with C1-inhibitor concentrate. Mean follow-up was 3.5 years. Results All patients were capable of self-administering the concentrate, with technical failure rates of self-injection being less than 2%. Times between the onset of the attack and the initiation of relief or complete resolution of symptoms in the on-demand group were significantly shortened (2.2 hours and 7.9 hours, respectively) compared with the situation before the start of self-administration. In the prophylaxis group self-administration of C1-inhibitor concentrate decreased the angioedema attack rate from 4.0 to 0.3 attacks per month. Conclusion Intravenous self-administration of C1-inhibitor concentrate is a feasible and safe option and results in more rapid and more effective treatment or prevention of severe angioedema attacks in patients with C1-inhibitor deficiency. Clinical implications Self-administration of C1-inhibitor concentrate could be a valuable and convenient treatment modality to prevent or treat angioedema attacks in patients with C1-inhibitor deficiency.

Background Alveolar fibrin deposition is a hallmark of acute lung injury, resulting from activation of coagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Previous studies have shown that mechanical ventilation with high tidal volumes may aggravate lung injury in patients with sepsis and acute lung injury. The authors sought to determine the effects of mechanical ventilation on the alveolar hemostatic balance in patients without preexistent lung injury. Methods Patients scheduled for an elective surgical procedure (lasting > or = 5 h) were randomly assigned to mechanical ventilation with either higher tidal volumes of 12 ml/kg ideal body weight and no positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or lower tidal volumes of 6 ml/kg and 10 cm H2O PEEP. After induction of anesthesia and 5 h later bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood samples were obtained, and markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis were measured. Results In contrast to mechanical ventilation with lower tidal volumes and PEEP (n = 21), the use of higher tidal volumes without PEEP (n = 19) caused activation of bronchoalveolar coagulation, as reflected by a marked increase in thrombin-antithrombin complexes, soluble tissue factor, and factor VIIa after 5 h of mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation with higher tidal volumes without PEEP caused an increase in soluble thrombomodulin in lavage fluids and lower levels of bronchoalveolar activated protein C in comparison with lower tidal volumes and PEEP. Bronchoalveolar fibrinolytic activity did not change by either ventilation strategy. Conclusions Mechanical ventilation with higher tidal volumes and no PEEP promotes procoagulant changes, which are largely prevented by the use of lower tidal volumes and PEEP.

Severe infection is associated with profound alterations in the systemic haemostatic balance, with activation of coagulation and suppressed fibrinolysis. Within the alveolar compartment, similar disturbances have been described during pulmonary inflammation. The current authors investigated whether local haemostasis was influenced during ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). In five patients with unilateral VAP, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained from both the infected site (as identified on chest radiograph) and the contralateral noninfected lung (with no clinical or radiographic abnormalities). Markers for coagulation and fibrinolysis were compared between infected and noninfected lungs. A total of 10 healthy volunteers and 10 mechanically ventilated patients without pneumonia served as controls. Strong activation of coagulation (high levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes, soluble tissue factor and factor VIIa) was detected in BALF from infected lungs, compared with that from noninfected lungs and controls. Furthermore, in infected lungs, fibrinolysis was depressed, with high levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1. In conclusion, ventilator-associated pneumonia is characterised by a hypercoagulant state at the site of infection.

Background Mechanical ventilation (MV) can cause ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The innate immune response mediates this iatrogenic inflammatory condition. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a multiligand receptor that can amplify immune and inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that RAGE signaling contributes to the pro-inflammatory state induced by MV. Methods RAGE expression was analyzed in lung brush and lavage cells obtained from ventilated patients and lung tissue of ventilated mice. Healthy wild-type (WT) and RAGE knockout (KO) mice were ventilated with relatively low (approximately 7.5 ml/kg) or high (approximately 15 ml/kg) tidal volume. Positive end-expiratory pressure was set at 2 cm H2O during both MV strategies. Also, WT and RAGE KO mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury were ventilated with the above described ventilation strategies. In separate experiments, the contribution of soluble RAGE, a RAGE isoform that may function as a decoy receptor, in ventilated RAGE KO mice was investigated. Lung wet-to-dry ratio, cell and neutrophil influx, cytokine and chemokine concentrations, total protein levels, soluble RAGE, and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) presence in lung lavage fluid were analyzed. Results MV was associated with increased RAGE mRNA levels in both human lung brush samples and lung tissue of healthy mice. In healthy high tidal volume-ventilated mice, RAGE deficiency limited inflammatory cell influx. Other VILI parameters were not affected. In our second set of experiments where we compared RAGE KO and WT mice in a 2-hit model, we observed higher pulmonary cytokine and chemokine levels in RAGE KO mice undergoing LPS/high tidal volume MV as compared to WT mice. Third, in WT mice undergoing the LPS/high tidal volume MV, we observed HMGB1 presence in lung lavage fluid. Moreover, MV increased levels of soluble RAGE in lung lavage fluid, with the highest levels found in LPS/high tidal volume-ventilated mice. Administration of soluble RAGE to LPS/high tidal volume-ventilated RAGE KO mice attenuated the production of inflammatory mediators. Conclusions RAGE was not a crucial contributor to the pro-inflammatory state induced by MV. However, the presence of sRAGE limited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in our 2-hit model of LPS and high tidal volume MV. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40635-014-0022-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Innate immunity pathways are found to play an important role in ventilator-induced lung injury. We analyzed pulmonary expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in humans and mice and determined the role of TLR2 in the pathogenesis of ventilator-induced lung injury in mice. Toll-like receptor 2 gene expression was analyzed in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells and murine lung tissue after 5 h of ventilation. In addition, wild-type (WT) and TLR2 knockout (KO) mice were ventilated with either lower tidal volumes (VT) of 7 mL/kg with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or higher VT of 15 mL/kg without PEEP for 5 h. Spontaneously breathing mice served as controls. Total protein and immunoglobulin M levels in BALF, neutrophil influx into the alveolar compartment, and interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and keratinocyte-derived chemokine concentrations in lung tissue homogenates were measured. We observed enhanced TLR2 gene expression in BALF cells of ventilated patients and in lung tissue of ventilated mice. In WT mice, ventilation with higher VT without PEEP resulted in lung injury and inflammation with higher immunoglobulin M levels, neutrophil influx, and levels of inflammatory mediators compared with controls. In TLR2 KO mice, neutrophil influx and IL-6, IL-1β, and keratinocyte-derived chemokine were enhanced by this ventilation strategy. Ventilation with lower VT with PEEP only increased neutrophil influx and was similar in WT and TLR2 KO mice. In summary, injurious ventilation enhances TLR2 expression in lungs. Toll-like receptor 2 deficiency does not protect lungs from ventilator-induced lung injury. In contrast, ventilation with higher VT without PEEP aggravates inflammation in TLR2 KO mice.

Preventing tissue-factor-(TF-) mediated systemic coagulopathy improves outcome in models of sepsis. Preventing TF-mediated pulmonary coagulopathy could attenuate ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). We investigated the effect of relative TF deficiency on pulmonary coagulopathy and inflammation in a murine model of VILI. Heterozygous TF knockout ( T F + / − ) mice and their wild-type ( T F + / + ) littermates were sedated (controls) or sedated, tracheotomized, and mechanically ventilated with either low or high tidal volumes for 5 hours. Mechanical ventilation resulted in pulmonary coagulopathy and inflammation, with more injury after mechanical ventilation with higher tidal volumes. Compared with T F + / + mice, T F + / − mice demonstrated significantly lower pulmonary thrombin-antithrombin complex levels in both ventilation groups. There were, however, no differences in lung wet-to-dry ratio, BALF total protein levels, neutrophil influx, and lung histopathology scores between T F + / − and T F + / + mice. Notably, pulmonary levels of cytokines were significantly higher in T F + / − as compared to T F + / + mice. Systemic levels of cytokines were not altered by the relative absence of TF. TF deficiency is associated with decreased pulmonary coagulation independent of the ventilation strategy. However, relative TF deficiency does not reduce VILI and actually results in higher pulmonary levels of inflammatory mediators.